Chapter 1068

First Volume, Chapter 1068: Liu Ming's Rebellion

Upon hearing this devastating news, the young woman's expression remained dull and vacant.

She supported her belly with her left hand and clutched a five-year-old nephew from her clan in her right, her face filled with utter despair.

"What good is telling me this?"

"I'm just a prisoner. What can I possibly do? Even if I wanted to kill you, I lack the ability."

Though the young woman's vitality was nearly extinguished, her hatred toward Qin Feng remained intensely fierce.

Qin Feng let out a long sigh.

"Chen Si didn't have to die—he died because he came back to save you."

"It's less a rescue and more a duty: as a Chen, he had to return to die."

The young woman's gaze showed no change: "Our Chen family has no cowards!"

Qin Feng shook his head. He knew it was nearly impossible to change her mind, but some words he had to say.

"I just saw Brother Chen off. Though these words will sound hollow to you… his death hurt me too."

"Like you, I wished Brother Chen would retire, live the quiet life he deserved."

Hearing this, the young woman's eyes finally shifted—beyond hatred, a flicker of contempt emerged.

"Brother?!"

"How dare you call Chen Si brother!"

"Pah!"

The young woman spat directly through the Window at Qin Feng—not only to show her contempt, but to provoke him into killing her outright.

In her eyes, Qin Feng had brought her back to Liang Kingdom merely as a trophy.

What awaited her would be a life worse than a dog's.

Facing her repeated provocations, Qin Feng showed no anger—only silently lifted his sleeve and wiped the saliva from his face.

"Before Brother Chen passed, he begged me to spare the Chen family. I refused."

"But… I still wanted to do something for Brother Chen."

"I cannot change the minds of adults, so I killed them. But these children can still be reshaped. Neither Brother Chen nor I want them raised in hatred."

"You may hate me—but spare these children."

The young woman clutched her nephew tightly, her piercing gaze as if she wanted to devour Qin Feng alive.

"No! I will never grant you that!"

"Even if these children must die, they must defend the Chen family's honor—they will bleed their last drop."

"As long as the Chen family draws one breath, we will never forgive you."

Qin Feng frowned deeply: "Even at the cost of these children's futures?"

The young woman did not hesitate, answering cleanly: "Yes! Not just them—I will teach the child still in my womb who destroyed the Chen family! His mortal enemy is Qin Feng!"

Realizing no redemption remained, Qin Feng ceased his plea—but when his gaze fell on the children in the carriage, it filled with pity and helplessness.

These children were doomed to live in hatred, their fates fraught with suffering.

Just as Qin Feng turned to leave, an utterly vicious gaze suddenly shot toward the carriage.

Qin Feng frowned, turned, and saw Liu Ming standing nearby, silent.

Qin Feng instantly understood and gestured sharply to Liu Ming.

Liu Ming stepped forward without delay, arriving before Qin Feng and cutting in before he could speak: "If the Marquis cannot bring himself to act, let this villainy fall to me!"

"The Jin Yi Wei's duty is to eliminate all potential threats."

"Even if the Marquis purges me again, I do not care."

"The elderly, weak, and women may live—if they cherish this mercy. Since they do not, there is no reason to spare them."

Qin Feng knew well that Liu Ming acted for his own good.

After all, these people, once grown, would become Qin Feng's greatest threat.

But for now, they are still children.

"Liu Ming, this is none of your concern. Whatever happens in the future, I will take full responsibility."

In the past, Liu Ming would never have hesitated—he would have obeyed without question. But this time, he defied Qin Feng for the first time.

His eyes, like those of a wild beast, locked onto the young woman in the carriage and the children around her.

"If this concerned only the Marquis, I would have no objection."

"But sparing them endangers everyone!"

"The women behind you, your comrades beside you, the innocent people of Beixi County—all will become their targets of vengeance."

"I know the Marquis admired Grand General Chen, but to let personal feelings override the greater good is not your way."

"If you cannot make this decision, I will make it for you."

Qin Feng knew clearly: the moment he turned away, Liu Ming would charge the carriage and slaughter every woman and child inside.

As his most bloodthirsty killing machine, Liu Ming saw no distinction between man, woman, child, or elder.

Only those who must die—and those who need not.

If the men beside Qin Feng had been Li Zhang, Ning Hu, or even Xu Mo, they would have stood with him and spared these women and children.

But it was Liu Ming—the true butcher who never blinked at killing.

"Liu Ming, I order you: do not kill them."

Almost before the words left his mouth, Liu Ming dropped to his knees, drew a short dagger from his waist, and plunged it firmly into the ground before him.

"This is my duty. I cannot allow threats to grow unchecked."

"I will obey you in all things—except this."

"Your Grace, execute me on the spot immediately—or I will kill them!"

Sensing Liu Ming's resolute attitude, Qin Feng turned his gaze to the carriage in the distance, where a slender figure stood beside it—Shen Qingci.

Clearly, Shen Qingci had said something to Liu Ming, causing the ever-loyal Liu Ming to resist Qin Feng so fiercely.

She also knew what would happen if these people were spared.

She knew Qin Feng could not bring himself to make such a decision, so she made it for him.

Qin Feng closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then slowly drew his short knife, speaking slowly and deliberately: "I'll say it one last time—stand down!"

Liu Ming's gaze did not waver; his voice rang strong and clear: "Your Grace, execute me!"

Not far away, Wu Tang, seeing Qin Feng gripping the knife, realized the situation was dire—he immediately waved his hand and led a group of Tianji Camp Guards rushing over.

But not to stop Qin Feng—rather, to block the Anwu Guards who were approaching from a distance to investigate.

"All of you, stand down!"